Vets North - Vets Tales

Dr Graeme Ashby – BVSc, BSc(Hons), MACVS

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Dr Mark Young – BVSc

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Mark is a partner in the practice and works on the equine side of the clinic.  He has worked in many diverse places including Gisborne, Matamata & Morocco.  Mark is experienced treating all types of horses from the Donkeys and wild Shetland ponies of Marakesh to the more typical Sport horses of New Zealand.   His areas of particular interest is lameness examinations & diagnostic imaging. Mark will be familiar face to many for his starring role in Vet Tales alongside his mate Stacey from Vetora.  Follow their lives on TV1 Wednesday's at 7.30pm. Mark lives in Waimauku with his wife Caitlin & three boys, Monte, Kobe & Makai.  When he gets some free time outside of work he can be found fishing in the Coromandel, on the local cricket pitch and is always striving to brew the perfect beer.

Lisa Pedersen – Practice Manager

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Lisa joined the Team in 2013 & works between our Clinics as Practice Manager.  She brings many years experience in marketing, business administration & sales.  She worked overseas for many years in America running a large Equestrian Centre along with a stint as a photographer on Cruise Ships in South Africa. She doesn't go far without her Cocker Spaniel Capone who is lucky enough to join her at work, although he doesn't work quite as hard! Lisa lives in Wainui on her lifestyle block & is kept busy with her horses & Maine Coon cats.

Dr Angie Stringer – BVet Med

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Angie joined the small animal vet team in 2014 and has spent the last couple of years at home with her two young children. She is excited to re-joining the team and will mainly be based at our Silverdale clinic. Angie lives on a lifestyle block just out of Helensville with her horse, pet sheep, cows and cats.

Dr Catherine Phillips – BVSc

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Cathy is a dairy farmer's daughter who arrived up in Helensville in the early 80's & made her home here.  She was initially a 'cow girl' serving a predominantly dairy practice in the early Helensville days.  She has now moved into the small animal practice & has now become a 'cat girl'. She lives on a lifestyle block with her two & four legged menagerie.

Dr Elke Haag – Dr Med Vet

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Elke joined Kumeu Veterinary Services in 1996 and since the merger currently works in the companion animal side of the practice at Vets North Kumeu & Waimauku.  She studied veterinary medicine at the Tieraerztliche Hochschule in Hannover, Germany.  She moved to New Zealand in 1993 to complete her post graduate research project. Elke lives on a lifestyle block in Taupaki which she shares with her husband, two girls, several horses, sheep, chickens and her cat Moritz.

Dr Ella Kiely – BVSc

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Ella graduated from Massey University in November 2020 and spent the first 2.5 years practicing as a small animal veterinarian in the Bay of Islands. Originally from Kumeu, she made the move back home and joined the Vets North team in August 2023. In her spare time, Ella enjoys travelling, trying new food, exploring New Zealand’s beaches, and spending time with her cat Aggy.

Dr Elsa Flint – BVSc

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Elsa joined the Vets North team in a part time capacity as a Small Animal Vet.  She is one of the most qualified animal behaviour experts in New Zealand.  She runs Animals with Attitude behaviour clinic which takes referral animal behaviour cases from Auckland and beyond. Elsa has a MSc(Hons) in Behavioural Zoology, Bachelor of Veterinary Science (1991), Membership of the Australian & NZ College of Veterinary Scientists in animal behaviour and has recently completed a PhD in Veterinary Science (Behaviour).  She also lectures Animal behaviour at a training school for Veterinary technicians and is guest lecturer at Massey University in the field of animal behaviour.  She has also co-authored six books on animal care and behaviour and has published several scientific papers. Elsa can be found at Vets North Helensville on Saturday mornings & at Vets North Huapai & Veterinary Rehab Centre during the week.

Dr Elissa Mopper – DVM

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Elissa joined the Vets North Team in 2015 as a Mixed Animal Veterinarian, servicing our lifestyle clients in addition to working with companion animals. Briefly leaving Vets North to pursue her interest in companion animals, Elissa retuned in 2018 as a full-time small animal clinician, now based in Waimauku. 

Elissa’s special interests include ultrasonography, currently she is completing an ultrasound specialty certificate, allowing her to provide an increased level of expertise in this service. She is also passionate about dental care and preventative medicine, focusing on reducing future diseases in our pets.

In her free time, she loves going to the beach with her husband and dogs, Ember and Coal, or working in her garden. 

Dr. Geert Donkers – BVet Med

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Geert has joined Vets North for 12 months in October 2017 to work at the Waimauku clinic. He graduated from Utrecht University in 1988 and moved to the Outer Hebrides in Scotland where he has worked in a mixed vet practice for the last 29 years. He is married to Laura and has 3 grown up children working and studying in the UK. He has taken up cycling to work to keep fit and enjoying the New Zealand sunshine

Dr. Gemma Morgan – BVSc (DIST)

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Gemma joined the Vets North team as a small animal veterinarian in February 2022 after graduating from Massey University in November 2021. Originally from Auckland, Gemma now lives in Hatfield’s Beach with her partner and her dog Moose. In her spare time Gemma enjoys hiking, reading, and travel.

Dr. James L’Aime – BVSc

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James joined the Vets North team in 2016 as a Large Animal Vet based out of Vets North Helensville.  

Dr Jess Slattery – BVSc

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Jess joined the farm animal and equine veterinary team as a new graduate in 2019. She pursued a veterinary degree at Massey University after training as a veterinary technologist in 2015 and gaining clinical experience in both companion animal and rural veterinary practices. Jess grew up in Auckland and now lives in Helensville with her husband Nick, two catahoula leopard dogs Koda and Echo, and rescue cat Wendy. In her spare time Jess can be found riding her horse Rusty or enjoying the sunshine at one of the West Coast beaches.

Dr Jessica Howes – BVSc

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Jessica has been a part of the Vets North team as a companion animal veterinarian since 2017. She lives in rural Helensville with her partner and three dogs.

Katherine Long – Physio

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Our experienced and qualified physiotherapist Kath, has completed a Diploma in Equine Acupuncture & Level One Animal Physiotherapy through the Australian Physiotherapy Association.  She has also completed her Post Graduate Degree in Animal Physiotherapy through Liverpool University and has just completed her Masters in July 2019. You can find her at Vets North Huapai on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

Dr Keren Fraser – BVSc & BSc

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Keren graduated in 2006 from Massey University and spent the following four years in the Bay of Islands in mixed practice mainly dealing with dairy cows.  She then spent two years traveling around the UK focusing on small animals and returned to her native West Auckland to cover a maternity leave role & has stayed with us.

Dr. Leanne Whittaker – BVetMed

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Leanne graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2017.  She started as a mixed veterinarian and soon developed a love of small animal surgery, within an emergency setting.  Leanne did  2 years of emergency medicine before joining the Vets North team as a small animal vet.

You may see Leanne at Show Jumping and Cross Country events on her horse  Zoro, or walking her English Springer Spaniel Cecelia.  She also has a rescue cat Tammy.

Dr Mark Anderson – BVSc

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Mark was born in the UK but moved to Helensville in 1975, aged 16.  He went to Kaipara Collage for a year and then working on a local dairy farm for a year before going to Massey University to study Veterinary Science.  After staying on for an extra year he graduated with both a Batchelor and Master of Veterinary Science degree.  His Masterate was in deer parasitology, and he maintains a passion for parasitology to this day. After finishing at Massey he moved with his wife Maureen to Ruatoria on the East Coast doing sheep and beef work and station horses.  After two years he moved back to Helensville to work for the Kaipara Vet Club and has remained there since.  The practice has changed name several times and location once onto the main street but can still trace its roots back to the 1950’s. Mark is on of the remaining old school vets who will turn his hand to anything.  Whilst large animal practice is his passion, especially sheep and beef farming, small animals, alpaca, horses and dairy farming are all within his scope.  Mark is also a long serving member of the Helensville Volunteer Fire Brigade and a past Chairman of the Helensville Primary School BOT.  He is one of the Directors at Vets North. Mark has a small block outside Helensville where he has built a house and raised three daughters.

Dr Nadia Laing – BVSc

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Nadia graduated from Massey University in 1996 and has worked at a number of companion animal clinics in the Auckland area before joining the Vets North team in August 2019. Nadia enjoys all aspects of small animal practice and has a particular interest in feline medicine and surgery.  She also loves greyhound cuddles whenever the opportunity arises! Nadia lives on the North Shore with her 2 young adult sons, Truffle & Molly the dogs, Nigel the rabbit & Jojo the cockatiel.  When not at work she enjoys going for bush and beach walks, gardening, zumba, yoga classes, baking & knitting.

Dr. Sophie Arogundade – BVetMed

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Sophie joined the Vets North Equine Team in Aug 2021. Originally from the UK Sophie completed an Equine Internship at Massey University in Palmerston North joining the VN team. A keen equestrian herself you may spot Sophie out on her own horse in the weekends or walking her handsome dog Hero.

Dr. Sam Bate – BVSc

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Sam graduated from Massey University in 2017 and joined the small animal team at Vets North in 2021. Sam enjoys all aspects of small animal practice, but has a particular interest in dermatology. In her spare time Sam enjoys painting, baking and spending time with her partner Nathan and her cat “Goose”.

Amber Mildon – Administration

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Amber joined the team in April 2022. After leaving school she moved overseas where she worked as a groom traveling all over Europe for a top international showjumping rider. Since returning to NZ she has worked in Administration/Inventory roles.  She has a few of her own pets including 2 horses as well as her hunterway Sally. In her spare time you will find her riding her horses at the forest or beach.

Angela Martin-Davidson – Customer Service

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Angela joined the vets north team in April 2022 as customer service. Angela has grown up on a farm and enjoys a wide range of activities.

Arlene Pengally – Customer Service

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Arlene is one of our Customer Service superstars for our Helensville Clinic. Her journey began in 1993, when she qualified as a veterinary nurse and worked in a West Auckland Clinic for over 5 years. In 2001,  moved to the South Island and spent 7 years, on a 1300 acre property, in the remote Marlborough Sounds, working for an Eco Tourism company. In December 2007, she moved back to Helensville and started working for Helensville Vets in Janurary 2008. Arlene enjoys walking on the beach, bush walks, yoga and baking.  

Ali Roy – Vet Nurse

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Aleesha joined the team in April 2021 while completing her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, she now works between our Silverdale and Kumeu clinics. Aleesha has a Bengal cat called Atlas and two miniature ponies named Ellie and Jazzy. In her spare time Aleesha enjoys competing her thoroughbred horse Pasta.

Bianca Gola – Vet Nurse

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Bianca graduated last year from Unitec, gaining a Diploma in veterinary Nursing. Bianca has lived in Auckland her whole life, her family have always had a cat ever since she can remember. This year Bianca adopted her first dog, Riley. Since then she has spent most of her time getting out for walks or to the beach with Riley.

Briar Smith – Vet Nurse

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Always wanting to work with animals, Briar made the shift from the banking world to the veterinary world early 2020’s. Briar has previously worked in both an exotic and emergency clinic and has since joined the Vets North team as a Veterinary Nurse with us in May 2023. Briar’s love of animals has always been known and if she could, she would bring any animal possible home with her. Briar loves learning and being able to grow her knowledge to help ensure any animals she cares for are always getting the best care possible. In her spare time, you can find Briar with her nose in a book, spending time with Gerald, her attention-loving cat, volunteering at a de-sexing clinic, or covered in paint from a new art project.

Christine Keane – Customer Service

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Christine joined the Vets North team in 2023 bringing with her a wealth of experience in both Customer Service and Nursing. Christine has been in the vet industry for two decades, working with both small animals and large animals. Prior to this Christine worked in the Thoroughbred breeding industry both in NZ and overseas. Growing up and working in the Rangitikei Region Christina has a passion for working dog health and wellbeing.

Ginger Oliver – Vet Nurse & Vet Tech

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Ginger started at Vets North in July 2022. She is originally from Southern California, but obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Kansas State University. Ginger has been around animals her whole life. She grew up riding horses, competing in the Hunter-Jumper discipline, but did sorting and roping for fun. Ginger has had cats, dogs, horses and a variety of reptiles throughout her childhood and worked in and out of the veterinary field up through her teenage years and into young adult life. Though most of her responsibilities in previous clinics were in the ancillary department, she began vet nurse training in California before moving to New Zealand. Along with animals, Ginger has always had a passion for travel, languages and cultures, and as such, has lived abroad a number of times. Taking a break from the animal world and her degree, she achieved one of her greatest dreams of teaching English as a foreign language while living in the Czech Republic. After returning home to finish her studies, she caught the travel bug once again, which brought her to New Zealand. She had great success as a manager and barista for a specialty coffee company for the first 3 years here, but decided it was time to return to her passion for animals and is extremely happy to be working with animals again as part of the team at Vets North!

Jacob Burrell – Vet Nurse

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I completed the CVN last year and am finishing my DVN this coming year. I have an interest in all weird and wonderful pets and keep lovebirds, axolotls, a fire-bellied newt, as well as regular cats and dogs.

Jasmine Ward – Customer Service

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Jasmine joined Vets North in August 2022 as part of the Customer Service Team. Jasmine has grown up around many different animals and is passionate about horse riding and free flying her parrots. She has an impressive array of parrots from African Greys and Galah’s to Mustache Parakeets and Conures. In her spare time Jasmine enjoys camping and taking her horses Rua & Dakota to the beach with friends.

Jayne Wilson – Vet Nurse

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Jayne’s vet nursing career spans over a decade. Over this time Jayne has cared for all kinds of animals from cats and dogs to working as an equine and large animal technician. Jayne lives with her partner and their spicy cat Loki. Outside of work you’ll usually catch Jayne on her horse but she also enjoys 4WD winch comps and target shooting.

Jenna Watermeyer – Vet Nurse

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Jenna graduated with a Veterinary Nursing Diploma from Vet Nurse Plus. Over the past four years in clinic Jenna has discovered her passion for canine behaviour, an area she hopes to study further in. Jenna is also a certified Puppy Preschool trainer. At home Jenna has two dobermans that she loves adventuring with as well as a cat and two horses which she enjoys riding in her spare time.

Jess Deacon – Trainee Vet Nurse

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Jess has joined Vets North as a certificated vet nurse going on to complete her diploma in 2023. She started with us in June 2022 after studying at UCOL in Palmerston North. Alongside Vet Nursing, Jess also completed her professional dog grooming certificate which is something she plans to expand on in the near future as well as Vet Nursing. 

She grew up working with horses but in the last year taken on her Rottweiler Zara and recently her rescue Roxy. In her spare time she enjoys camping and off-roading which the dogs enjoy participating in as well.

Laura Deane – Vet Nurse

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Laura joined Vets North in August 2017 and works part time in our Helensville branch.  She qualified in the UK, before moving to New Zealand to enjoy many outdoor adventure sports.  She now lives in South Head on her lifestyle property with horses, sheep and chickens with her partner and their 2 children.  She occasionally still gets to enjoy some outdoor adventure!

Lia McKenzie – Customer Service

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Lia joined the Helensville Vets North Team in June 2022. Having studied Canine Behaviour and Training, Lia went on to run her own Dog Walking Business, doing group walks and basic training. In 2020 Lia joined the SPCA canine team as their Volunteer Liaison, and spent a year working with abused and neglected dogs, and training volunteers to do the same. In 2021 Lia made the change to Aviation Security, before coming to Join us at Vets North Helensville.

Lily Donne

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More to come on Lily

Melanie Trickett – Vet Nurse

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Melanie qualified as a vet nurse in the UK in 2000. She has worked in a wide variety of practices in the UK – doing small & large animal, equine avian and exotic pets. Melanie has spent the last 10  years working at the Auckland Zoo before starting at Vets North in 2017 to be closer to home.  

Melissa Rochefort – Rennie – Team Leader

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Melissa has been with the Vets North Team since 2012. Originally employed as a veterinary nurse she turned her focus to customer service and is now the Waimauku Team Leader. Mel is our puppy preschool co-ordinator and has a strong interest in canine behaviour and enrichment. In her spare time you can find her on her lifestyle block with her partner and their fur family.

Mia Anderson – Cattery Assistant

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Mia joined the team in 2023 after standing out to the Waimauku Team while completing a student placement. Currently a student at Kingsway College Mia is working towards entry to University to become a Veterinarian. In her spare time she enjoys hanging out with her bunnies Frost and Chia or curling up with a good book. Mia also enjoys the outdoors, practicing her archery or mountain biking as a part of the school team.

Narissa Cato – Vet Nurse

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Narissa moved into the Helensville area from the Waikato and has worked at the Helensville clinic since 2007.  She started her Veterinary Nurse Certificate while working at the clinic and qualified in 2009.  Narissa feels very privileged to work with animals and have them as part of our lives. She has many fur babies who have stolen her heart over the years and is lucky enough to have a family who are just as animal crazy.  

Natalya Norton – Trainee Vet Nurse

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Natalya joined the Vets North Kumeu team in September 2019 as a Kennel hand.  Natalya is excited to have this opportunity to gain new skills which will support her future goal of becoming a qualified Vet Nurse. Natalya has always enjoyed being around animals and shows genuine care for their wellbeing. Currently a Kumeu local, Natalya’s family have dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens as well as the horses & cows. In her spare time, Natalya enjoys reading books, photography, walking her dog on the beach and making jewellery.

Petra Gordon – Vet Nurse

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Petra graduated from Unitec in 2021 with a diploma in Veterinary Nursing. She joined the Vets North team in 2017. Petra grew up around many different species of animals and was a keen equestrian for over 10 years.  Petra strives in providing excellent patient care and nursing each patient as if it was her own.

Petra lives locally with her partner Chris. Her animal entourage consists of Fin a Blue Heeler, Olive a SPCA special and Irwin a Ragdoll she hand-reared. In her spare time Petra enjoys camping, 4WDing, weightlifting, reading and spending quality time with her family and friends.

 

Rachel Hindley – Vet Nurse

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Rachel joined Vets North in 2021, after graduating with her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. She now works predominantly out of Vets North Silverdale. Rachel grew up on the Hibiscus Coast before settling on a lifestyle block in Wainui to raise her three children. Rachels pets include sheep, kune kune pigs, runner ducks and a cat she adopted from our Waimauku branch (coincidently also named Rachel). In her free time, she loves to craft, garden and hunt through op shops for vintage treasures.

Rachelle Croft – Vet Nurse

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Rachelle grew up in Auckland and has spent many of her years travelling overseas! Making the decision to study Veterinary Nursing as an adult, Rachelle has now been in the industry for 15 years. For the last 20 years Rachelle has lived in Tahekeroa with a menagerie of animals including horses, donkey’s, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, cats and fish. When Rachelle is not spending time at home with her animals or gardening you’ll catch her outdoors with her son. Having been a keen mountain biker for 35 years, it’s something Rachelle and her son enjoy doing together.

Roxy van Dam – Vet Nurse

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Roxy joined the Vets North team in December 2022 after completing part of her first and second year Vet Nurse student placements with us. Roxy has a keen interest in animals and the environment and is looking to further her education within these industries while continuing to be a veterinary nurse. In her spare time Roxy enjoys spending time training or adventuring with her border collie Ivy who keeps her on her toes.

Sarah England – Vet Nurse

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Sarah joined our Customer Services team back in 2015 and then decided that she would like a change in her career path. She has since gained her Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing through Unitec in 2020 and now works across all our clinics as a veterinary nurse. Sarah has also had the opportunity to nurse in Tonga with South Pacific Animal Welfare charity in 2018 and 2019.

Samantha Pribicevich – Vet Nurse

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Samantha qualified with a Diploma in veterinary nursing in 2015. Since then she has since worked for two other clinics in the west Auckland area before joining the Vets North team. Sam’s interests are patient care, surgery and radiology. Sams always been an animal lover growing up in Massey with a few dogs and cats over the years but for now she has just two cats which she absolutely loves. When she’s not working, she is busy with partner Sean their two boys Blake and Karter on the rugby field, at the beach or just out for an adventure.

Sarah Nicolson – Vet Nurse

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Sarah joined the Vets North Team while studying towards her Veterinary Nursing Diploma. Sarah lives on a lifestyle block with chickens, alpacas and dogs. Her love of animals saw her working in a kennels before deciding to study vet nursing.

Sienna Lett – Cattery Assistant

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More to come on Sienna..

Sami Baker – Team Leader Helensville

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Sami joined the Helensville Customer Service Team in June 2019 and is now their Team Leader. Sami always wanted to work with animals so when the opportunity arose she left her career in another industry to pursue her dream. Sami enjoys spending time with her family including rescue kitten Nacho and American Bulldog Mukka.

Steff Bartulovich – Customer Service

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Stefanie is one of our Customer Service Superstars in Kumeu and has been with us since 2015. Stefanie has grown up with animals all her life, from rescuing & bringing up baby ducklings found in drains, to stray cats & dogs, to even having a wild boar living inside with her.  Steff has also had an epileptic dog called Patch who she cared for in her later years.  She now has two dogs, a young American Staffordshire terrier called Mila & a retired pig hunting dog called Boss.  She also has a 7kg ginger cat! Outside of work Steff enjoys fishing, camping & all things outdoors.

Stevie Rhodes – Customer Service

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Stevie has been surrounded by all kinds of animals most of her life. Her current entourage consists of  Keira, A staffy x, Pumpkin, a Chihuahua & Armani, a Rottweiler.  She has competed in equestrian sports for over a decade. In her spare time you’re likely to find Stevie, her daughter and the rest of the clan off on a muddy, sandy, wet adventure of some kind.

Solana Vaughan – Cattery Assistant

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I joined the Vets North team in June 2019. I am currently in Yr 12 at Kaipara College, I am passionate about Wildlife Photography, Surfing, and my horses. I live in Muriwai and love taking my horses for gallops down the beach as well as competing in eventing and show jumping. 

Trina Mullan – Stock & Vet Nurse

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Trina moved to Auckland from Taranaki in 2015 to study Vet Nursing, during this year she began working for Vets North. Trina comes from a large dairy farming family and enjoys getting hands on within the clinic and at home.  Trina lives in West Harbour and brings her well known rescue dog Peaches with her to work daily.  Trina is based in the Kumeu clinic and oversees stock management of all the Vets North clinics along with other admin duties such as student placements, vet rosters, ordering and invoicing.

Vanessa Pocock – Accounts Administration

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Vanessa joined Vets North in 2022 in an Accounts Administrator role. Previously completing a diploma in Hospitality Management, Vanessa found working in accounts and admin based roles the most enjoyable.  Vanessa has lived in Huapai since 2012 with her partner, primary school aged son and two Labradors. Outside of work she enjoys spending time in her garden and attending her sons sports games.  

Verity Collins- Team Leader Silverdale

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Verity is originally from the UK, and emigrated with her family to NZ as a teenager. She joined the Vets North team in July 2018. Graduating as a veterinary nurse in 2009 she gained a few years' experience at a small animal practice before her and her partner Dave did the big OE over to London, back packing in Southeast Asia for 3 months along the way. She worked in a busy first opinion practice in North West London for a number of years and after plenty more travelling the call for home was too strong. She and Dave moved back to NZ, settled down and had two daughters. They live in Kaukapakapa with their dog Finn and cat Obi-Wan.